More terror groups eye Pak nuke weapons: Petraeus

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 16 (PTI) Many terror groups based in the
region are eyeing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, a top most US
commander has said stressing that a strong vigil is needed to
be maintained.
Hinting that groups other than al- Qaeda and Taliban
might be seeking to arm themselves with nuclear weapons,
General David Petraeus, Commander of US and NATO forces in
Afghanistan has suggested that US should stay engaged in the
area in which "we have such vital interests".
Though the US commander did not name the groups, American
security officials have said that Punjab based groups like
LeT, JeM and Sipah-i-Sabha were now working closely with
al-Qaeda and Taliban in the tribal areas close to the Af-Pak
border.
The General also raised the possibility of operating
joint military bases with local forces, after US troops
withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.
Previously US had said that it was only groups like al-
Qaeda and Taliban that were out to acquire small sized nuclear
weapons, but now General David Petraeus, Commander of US and
NATO forces in Afghanistan said "there are many groups
operating on Pak-Afghan border eyeing weapons of mass
destructions".
"There are certainly other elements in Pakistan, the
Pakistani Taliban and several other varieties of elements who
generally have symbiotic relationships, the most extreme of
which might, indeed, value access to nuclear weapons or other
weapons that could cause enormous loss of life," Petraeus told
the Senate Armed Services Committee.
While the focus of the hearing was the war in
Afghanistan, the central theme of the US commanders deposition
was on threat emanating from ungoverned areas of Pakistan,
which served as havens for terror groups of all hues.
While assuring the lawmakers that nuclear weapons of
Pakistan were for the moment safe and secure, the General said
a constant vigil needed to be maintained.
"I mean, they killed several thousands in one destructive
act. And some have shown a willingness to carry out similar
destructive acts if they had the means at their survival," he
said.
The General said it was very important for US to stay
engaged in the region and for this he mooted the idea of
setting up joint military bases with local forces.
Citing his tenure in Iraq, Petraeus said that US should
have enabler troops that train, advise and support local
forces in countries where the US has important security
interests.
He and Michele Flournoy, the Under Secretary of Defence
stressed at the meeting that any continued military
relationship with Afghanistan would require negotiations with
the government there.
Senators both Republicans and Democrats pressed to find
out what could be done to assist and even compel Pakistan to
do more to rout insurgents from those areas.
"The Pakistanis are the first to note that more needs to
be done", Petraeus said.
The General said while the bulk of al-Qaeda was holed up
underground in the tribal area, the group continued to
maintain small presence inside Afghanistan.
Petraeus said al-Qaeda had about 100 operatives or
fighters inside Afghanistan.
On efforts to woo Taliban foot soldiers, the US commander
said attempts were showing progress and about 700 former
Taliban fighters had officially reintegrated with the Afghan
authority and another 2000 were now in early stages of
reintegration process.